WESTMINSTER : Mayor, Challengers Differ on Support

Mayor Charles V. Smith says his win in Tuesday’s election shows that the city is happy with his performance. He says he plans to continue to expand upon his current city programs.

“I feel good about it,” said Smith, who has been on the council since 1984 and mayor since 1988. “It’s a reaffirmation that the stances I’ve taken, the programs I’ve implemented, such as the anti-crime and anti-drug programs, the people want continued and expanded on.”

Smith said he will continue with aggressive redevelopment programs while balancing the budget.

But the two candidates who lost to Smith, Councilwoman Joy L. Neugebauer and Regina Hardin, said Smith’s win does not represent a vote of support from the people. Smith received 46% of the vote, Neugebauer 35%, and Hardin 19%.

“The two women split the vote. It was not a vote of confidence for Mayor Smith,” said Neugebauer, who has served on the council 20 non-consecutive years. “I’m very, very disappointed, because I seriously felt the city needed to take a new direction, and I still have that feeling.”

Neugebauer, who said she thought misleading material was mailed out about her positions during the campaign, said the community is still concerned about the budget and the water rates. She also said she might run again, “depending on how responsive the government is to the community.”

Hardin, a relative newcomer to the political scene in Westminster, agreed that people have not been happy with their choices. She said she represented an alternative.

“With Smith and Neugebauer, they had no choice, and people were tired of both,” she said. “I was the alternative vote. The people of Westminster are ready for a change.”

Hardin said she is thrilled to have received almost 20% of the vote because she was not well known. She said she will continue to be a vocal member of the community.

The elections for one two-year and two four-year seats on the council are still too close to call. Remaining absentee ballots will not be counted until Monday. So far, Tony Lam is ahead of Margie Rice by 43 votes for the two-year seat, while incumbent Councilman Frank Fry Jr. leads Charmayne Bohman by 10 votes, who leads incumbent Councilwoman Lyn Gillespie by 42 votes in the race for the two four-year seats.